Zac Efron To Become An Informant In True Crime Drama Narc

Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens both made a strong move to push themselves out of "child star" status when they appeared alongside a cornrowed James Franco in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, and now their fellow Disney alum, Zac Efron, is trying out some darker material for himself. The Hollywood Reporter has learned that the High School Musical actor has landed the lead role in Narc, a new crime drama in development at Fox.

Based on a true story, the film is described as a "a college-set Donnie Brasco" and follows a young and extremely promising student who gets in serious trouble when he is caught with a bunch of cocaine that he was going to sell at a party. Making a deal with the cops, the student agrees to be an undercover informant. Newcomer Garrett Meyer has been tasked with writing the script while Julie and Rick Yorn (We Bought A Zoo, Unstoppable) will serve as producers. The article makes no mention of a director, so presumably the studio is still on the hunt.

Efron is currently filming the R-rated Nicholas Stoller-directed comedy Townies, which co-stars Seth Rogen, Christopher Mintz Plasse, Dave Franco, and Rose Byrne. He recently completed filming on both the romantic comedy Are We Officially Dating? and the JFK assassination drama Parkland. He also recently signed on for the crime thriller Autobahn with Amber Heard and the Rob Reiner thriller You Belong To Me.